Police Arrests Retired Naval Officer For Possession Of Arms

Onitsha market, commonly referred to as the commercial city of Anambra state is usually a beehive of activities, as traders travel from other parts of the country to buy goods for retail purposes. This is because goods are reportedly sold at cheaper rates compared to other big markets across the country. For instance, men’s singlet is one of the fastest moving businesses in the market as traders prefer to buy there than in Cotonue, Benin Republic.

The reason why singlets are sold cheaper in the market was recently unfolded following the startling recovery of ammunition that were neatly concealed inside twenty-eight cartoons packed with singlets.The goods which were conveyed in a white Volkswagen bus with plate number XT 537 LSD was reportedly loaded from Seme boarder en route Balogun market at Trade fair complex in Lagos, when some policemen from Trade Fair division of Area ‘E’ command, stopped it for a search.

Suspecting there could be more to what the driver of the bus gave as contents of the sealed carton, the policemen reportedly took the car to the station where they demanded to know what was inside. During the search, 26 cartoons of live cartridges concealed inside cartons of T-shirts and two bags of beans were discovered.

The driver of the vehicle, one James Korinjoh later discovered to be a retired Naval Officer was arrested. Recovered also in the vehicle, according to Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Umar Manko, were a Naval Warrant Officer’s ‘WO2’ uniform, ID card, beret cap and shoe belonging to the military.

Investigations, according to Manko, extended to Onitsha, Anambra state where one Maduabuchi Udeh, suspected to be one of the owners of the consignment was arrested. The Police boss alleged that Maduabuchi offered the sum of N61,200 to the police team to influence release of the consignment but was arrested in the process.

Efforts, according to Manko, were still on to track the alleged kingpin, Ejike and other suspects. Meanwhile, he informed that the arrested suspects would be charged to court.